Let November Be November
We didn’t celebrate Halloween or Thanksgiving when I was growing up in Russia. Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the Atlanta airport and saw people dressed as cows and bears. I thought they were filming a movie! Then, another time, a group of women introduced me to Christmas in July. I still had much to learn about Americans’ love of celebrations!
My grandchildren love Halloween. My son-in-law turns the front of his house into almost an amusement park, and the girls love it. My grandsons had their costumes ready. Celebrations bring joy and give us opportunities to meet our neighbors and invite them to church.
Still, after thirty years here, I sometimes miss the slower sequence of the calendar, without Christmas trees standing next to Halloween skeletons. Some of us love the excitement. Others find this season tiring or lonely. There is room for all of us.
This November, I invite you to pause with me. Take a breath. Take a walk—even in the rain. Give thanks for who you are and for those who helped you become that person.
On All Saints Sunday, we remember those whose love and ministry shaped our churches and our lives. We miss them, and we are grateful. To all of you who continue their work—feeding neighbors, welcoming strangers, visiting, teaching, and caring—thank you. Through your faithfulness, work they did not have time to finish continues, and new ministry begins.
Thanksgiving invites gratitude. Advent gives us time to wait and prepare. Christmas brings its own joy. Whether you love a busy celebration or prefer a quiet afternoon, allow yourself time to receive what each season offers.
Let’s not hurry past what God has given us to enjoy.
Pastor Lydia
